New Years (Sewing) Resolutions for 2018 – Amanda’s Picks!

This week, the Sew News editorial staff will be sharing their sewing goals for 2018. I’ll go first!

Friends, I sewed somewhere in the neighborhood of 65 garments this year. In that number, there’s a good mix of gifts (for my mom, my husband, and my daughter) and easy, instant-gratification projects but that’s probably still too many! I had a few misses, but overall, a large portion of the garments made their way into my daily wardrobe and for that, I am very proud. But I don’t need as many new things in 2018 – so I’m planning to slow down and skill up.

In 2018, I plan to take on a few more involved projects. I resisted for so long, but I’m planning to make not one, but two jeans patterns. As I’ve sewn more, I’ve realized how much I hate shopping (unless it’s for fabric!), particularly for something like jeans – there are so many variables to consider! I’d honestly rather make my own (I think!) but I might take an online course to tackle fitting. I’ve got a few button-ups leftover from my fall list, but I’ve decided I like collars and plackets. Well, I’m not so sure about sleeve plackets…I’ll check back in! I made a Grainline Studio Tamarack Jacket this fall (from thrifted fabric) and I have kind of fallen in love with outerwear. I think I might make another – an additional mid- to lightweight jacket would serve me well for Colorado spring/fall layering.

I took part in the #2018makenine challenge on Instagram: essentially, you pick 9 patterns to make in the new year, either from your pattern stash or new patterns. Here are my pattern picks.

In addition to making monthly sewing plans, I’ve been working on my sewing/fashion sketches all year. Earlier this fall, touched off by a post by Jen Beeman of Grainline Studio, I was inspired to plan a winter mini-capsule – 2 outfits with 6 garments total, all interchangeable together and guaranteed to work with the other items in my wardrobe. I’m halfway through and the process has changed the way I think about my approach to planning. I really love capsule-based planning. And all that being said, careful planning be damned! I’m hoping to make room for a few more just-because projects this year, likely in the form of a few summery dresses.

For the back half of 2017, I was (mostly!) pretty good about not adding to my stash without a plan. However, plans changed and I still bought fabric faster than I could sew it, so I have some stash to work through in 2018. So yeah, #stashdiet for me!

At some point this year, “sewing as practice” entered my language and the way I think about my hobby….and I love it. Like yoga, sewing is not a destination but a process, a way toward betterment and, for me, a way to be present in the creative moment, I think. I’m hoping to put some intention into that this year, in addition to taking better photos of my finished makes (on my body!). I’m also considering starting a blog (heaven knows I like to sew, and think about sewing, and write about sewing, etc).

One Response to New Years (Sewing) Resolutions for 2018 – Amanda’s Picks!

At the start of 2018, I asked my doll-clothes-sewing-blog followers to vote on what they want more of. The winner is intermediate and beginner doll clothes patterns. So for the coming year, I’ll be focusing on providing those easy-sew doll clothes patterns on my blog. The easier the pattern, the less time it takes me to design it, so that’s good news!